Public Policy Update
Monday, March 23, 2015
Ellyn Jeager, Director Public Policy & Advocacy
The legislature will be in session all this week. Next week, Tuesday, March 31, will be day 39 and the last day of the session will be Thursday, April 2. With only a few days left in the session, the committees have very packed agendas.
Many of the bills on which I have been reporting have been amended. An amendment to a bill can be added in committee or on the floor of the House or Senate. When there is an amendment to a bill, the change must be agreed upon by both the House and Senate. Final versions of bills that were passed this session will be available on the Legislative website: www.legis.ga.gov.
Bills We Have Been Tracking:
SB 131 - Sponsor: Senator Dugan - Moves Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) from being "licensed" to being "certified". This would allow more flexibility as changes to the CSUs need to be made. STATUS: This bill passed the House Health & Human Services Committee as amended.
HB 1 - Sponsor: Representative Peake - Provides for regulated medical use of cannabis and its derivatives for certain medical conditions. This bill is also known as Haleigh's Law. STATUS: Passed the Senate with several amendments.
SB 8 & SR 7 -Sponsor: Senator Unterman - Recognizes that sexually exploited children are the victims of a crime and should be treated as victims. It creates a fund to pay for rehab, housing & treatment under the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund Commission to support such services. Funds come through additional fines on convicted traffickers and adult entertainment business fees. STATUS: Will be heard today (March 24) in the House Juvenile Justice committee.
HB 288 - Sponsor: Representative Dempsey - Would add two additional members to serve on the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council. STATUS: Senate Health & Human Services Committee
SB 1 - Sponsor: Senator Bethel - Would provide coverage for behavioral health treatment for children diagnosed with Autism and are six years old or younger. It exempts businesses with 10 or fewer employees and mandates a yearly limit of $35,000 in payments. STATUS: There was a hearing in the Insurance House Committee, but no vote was taken.
HB 198 - Sponsor: Representative Dempsey - The Department of Education would require that all certified public school personnel receive annual training in suicide awareness and prevention, and each school system would adopt a policy on student suicide prevention. STATUS: Passed the Senate.
SB 53 - Sponsor: Senator Kirk - Extends the sunset provision for two years to allow licensed professional counselors to certify that a person requires transport and evaluation to involuntary mental health treatment. STATUS: This bill has now been signed by the Governor.
HB 177 - Sponsor: Representative Wilkerson - Provides for notification that a report on child abuse made by a school employee must receive the findings from the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) within five days. DFCS must make the report to the school counselor or the school principal whether or not the abuse was confirmed or unconfirmed. STATUS: The bill passed the House and is now in Health & Human Services in the Senate.
HR 641 - Sponsor: Representative Dempsey - This House Resolution creates a study committee to study children's mental health in Georgia. STATUS: The Resolution was heard in the House Health & Human Services Committee and passed without any changes.
HB 512 - Sponsor: Representative Jasperse - Redefines the role of the Regional Planning Boards and changes their name to Regional Advisory Councils. STATUS: In the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.
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